JEGS High Performance news 2009-10-30

Team JEGS racers give fans a sneak peek of 50th anniversary cars
LAS VEGAS (Oct. 30) -- The 50th Anniversary celebration of JEGS High
Performance got off to an early start Friday when Team JEGS racers Jeg
Coughlin Jr. and his nephew Troy...

Team JEGS racers give fans a sneak peek of 50th anniversary cars

LAS VEGAS (Oct. 30) -- The 50th Anniversary celebration of JEGS High
Performance got off to an early start Friday when Team JEGS racers Jeg
Coughlin Jr. and his nephew Troy Coughlin Jr. unveiled special "50 Years"
logos on their yellow and black hot rods.

Both men are racing at this weekend's ninth annual Las Vegas NHRA
Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Jeg in Pro Stock and
T.J. in Super Comp. Before the start of next season, all Team JEGS
racecars and transporters will proudly display the "JEGS 50 Years
1960-2010" design.

"We're all very excited about the upcoming season and celebrating 50
years of JEGS being in business," Jeg Jr. said. "This milestone is
something we're all extremely proud of and we plan on having a fun year
both at JEGS headquarters and at the races.

"In today's day and age I think it's pretty impressive to reach 50 years
of being in business. It speaks to the hundreds of wonderful associates
we've had over the years and the consistency of product and service we've
provided to our loyal customers over the years.

"Dad started this little speed shop 50 years ago in downtown Columbus
with two employees and a big dream and now 50 years later we catalog
thousands of parts and deliver millions of packages overnight worldwide.
It's pretty incredible to stop and think about how far we've come in the
last half century."

Family patriarch Jeg Coughlin Sr., who regularly attends the races to
assist his four sons and ever-growing number of grandchildren, reflected
on the company's growth with pride.

"It's been a phenomenal ride," Jeg Sr. said. "When you think about
starting out as a little project all these years back and then look at
our facilities now, it humbles you. I credit the boys with so much of our
success. I ran the thing for 27 years and then sold it to them and they
turned around and took us from a $20 million-a-year shop to a $200
million-a-year company since then. That speaks volumes to the work
they've done.

"I'm especially proud of the fact we've taken this business and used it
to make our family closer than most. Between the family aspect of what we
do and the good decisions we've collectively made along the way, to me
that's been the difference."

Jeg Jr. runs the company along with older brothers John, Troy, and Mike.
JEGS Mail Order currently employs 320 associates throughout Central Ohio.

"Like most businesses that do well, we've been fortunate enough to have
great people working with us through the years," Jeg Jr. said. "I think
we now have 25 or so employees that have been with us for at least 20
years with a few of them in the 40-year range. They're all a big part of
this and they're as much a part of the equation as anyone in the family.

"We're now starting to see a third generation of Coughlin's and many
associates coming into the business and that's exciting too because you
can see that this deal is going to continue on for many more years."